Three phase emulsified fuel and method of preparation and use

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air-water-hydrocarbon three-phase micro-emulsified fuel prepared by adding water, air, and emulsifier compositions to liquid hydrocarbon fuels, to the methods of preparation, and to the uses of the micro-emulsions. The three-phase micro-emulsion fuel is prepared by emulsifying heavy hydrocarbons such as bunker fuel oil and heavy petroleum from the fraction distillation of petroleum, with water or an aqueous liquid, air, and emulsifier compositions, in which the petroleum-derived fuel and the air form a dispersed phase and the aqueous liquid forms a continuous phase. The resulting emulsified fuel is to be used as an alternative energy fuel in internal combustion engines, boilers, heaters, furnaces, combustion turbines or power plants offering the advantages of lower viscosity, higher performance and cleaner burning than the original fuel.

Description

OTHER RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 272,406, filed on Nov. 14, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to air-water-hydrocarbon three phase emulsified fuel. More specifically, the invention relates to air-water-hydrocarbon three phase emulsified fuel prepared by adding water, air, and emulsifier compositions to liquid hydrocarbon fuels, and to methods of preparation and uses of the emulsions.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]It is known that the combustion of liquid hydrocarbons, for example for feeding internal combustion engines or for producing heat, leads to the formation of numerous pollutants, in particular soot, particulates, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and noncombusted hydrocarbons, which contribute significantly towards atmospheric p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]The emulsified fuel is produced in a process plant or directly on a user's premises. It is a three-phase micro-emulsion, which is composed of hydrocarbon-air-water-, which is stable and homogenous. Compared to the use of crude oil, refinery residues or fuel oil, this type of emulsion results in fuels with less viscosity, greater efficiency and is less contaminant.

[0022]Heavy petroleum, bunker fuel oil Nos. 4, 5, and 6 can be converted into low-viscosity, clean-burning liquid fuels by combining the oil with an aqueous liquid and air to form a micro-emulsion, and incorporating sufficient emulsifier compositions (surfactants like Ox and Px) to stabilize the emulsion. The resulting three-phase fuel micro-emulsion is useful as a substitute for the non-emulsified fuels. For example, the micro-emulsion prepared from fuel oil No. 6 can be used in any furnace, boiler, engine, combustion turbine or power plant where fuel oil No. 6 or lower-numbered fuel oils have heretofore been known for use. Also, the micro-emulsion prepared from heavy crude oil can be used as a substitute for fuel oil No. 6 or lower-numbered fuel oils. For any of the above-numbered fuel oils, the viscosity of the resulting micro-emulsion is low enough to permit pumping of the emulsion at lower temperatures or even at ambient temperature, which is particularly valuable for micro-emulsions formed with heavy petroleum or bunker fuel oils No. 4, 5 and 6. Furthermore, the burning of the three-phase air-water-hydrocarbon micro-emulsion offers significant reductions in nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate emissions relative to the non-emulsified fuel oil. This reduces the need and cost of exhaust gas treatment. There is also a significant reduction in the amount of soot generated, which reduces maintenance and, in boilers, improves heat transfer efficiency.

[0023]In general, the fuel component of the micro-emulsion undergoes a more complete combustion, which leads to improvements in fuel efficiency and thermal efficiency. In addition, the ability of the micro-emulsion to be pumped at lower or ambient temperatures lowers maintenance costs and capital costs since it eliminates the need for heated or lined transport vessels and pipelines. Micro-emulsions prepared from heavy crude oil offer the further advantage of having the characteristics of the above-numbered fuel oils without requiring blending with a cutter stock or a distillated fraction. This provides a less expensive alternative to the above-numbered fuel oils.

[0024]It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a micro-emulsified fuel that can be pumped and transported more easily and that burns more efficiently.

[0025]It is another object of this invention to provide a method to develop the emulsified fuel that is inexpensive to implement and maintain while retaining its effectiveness.

Problems solved by technology

The publication however refers only to a Diesel emulsion that reduces smoke, soot emissions, particulate emissions, and NOx emissions, however not improving combustion or using other original hydrocarbon components (i.e. heavy fuel oil) other than diesel.

This publication however is limited and refers only to an emulsion fabricated from superheavy oil and a method for generating deteriorated oil-in-water oil emulsion fuel, which is limited to superheavy oil with a volatile content of 12% by weight or less at 340° C. Therefore, the molecular weight is larger than that of the components constituting ordinary oils

Additionally, Gunnerman documents one of the problems with the handling and transportation of heavy fuels in that they require “heating” before they can be pumped.

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